David Moyes was forced to settle for a draw on his return to old club Sunderland.placeholder image
David Moyes was forced to settle for a draw on his return to old club Sunderland. | Getty Images
Everton’s squad is getting thinner by the week but the door has now opened for a forgotten man
Everton didn’t have the biggest squad when the summer transfer window shut, and David Moyes has probably counting the days until it opens again.
Their injury list has seen Michael Keane’s name added to it with Idrissa Gana Gueye still having a game left of his three match suspension left to serve. Until Matchday 19, the players will be walking a suspension tightrope with only five yellow cards needed for an immediate suspension. Ironically, the current problems could see the Toffees boss forced into playing players in their strongest positions and a potential recall for a player who hasn’t featured all season.
Why Moyes could turn to Nathan Patterson
Before the win over Bournemouth, Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner were one yellow card away from missing the pivotal Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest. After just 22 minutes Iroegbunam made his way into the referee’s notebook, giving Moyes a selection headache.
There is an obvious solution, though, and it involves Garner returning to his more natural home in the middle of the park where he can partner Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. With Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite both missing through injury, Tuesday’s man of the match Jake O’Brien will continue in his favoured position. It was the sort of performance that served a reminder as to where he feels more at home. What this leaves is a vacancy at right-back and, after recovering from hernia surgery, Nathan Patterson is back in the matchday squad.
The 24-year old has struggled to stay fit since arriving from Rangers but with Scotland qualifying for the World Cup, he will be keen to get a consistent run of games and impress his national team manager Steve Clarke. If Moyes gives him his chance against Forest, he could get the chance if revenge against Sean Dyche after the infamous “slap” incident that the former Everton boss played down but clearly left a mark on the player, so to speak, with Patterson said to be ‘embarrassed’ over the ordeal.
Jake O’Brien gives David Moyes a decision to make
O’Brien might well have to move out to the flank if Keane recovers with the Republic of Ireland international explaining why such a decimated squad is still climbing the table, via Everton’s website: "We knew it'd be a difficult game coming here but we were confident and knew if we stuck together, stuck to the game plan and stayed solid we could get the goal and that's what we did. We were patient. We knew we'd create chances and we had the quality to take them. You see the quality Jack has and he got the one that was enough for the win in the end.
"We wanted to put it right after [the Newcastle defeat] because we were disappointed with the result. We did that so the next challenge is following it up because we've got another quick turnaround between our next game at the weekend. The mentality in the group is very good. We've got a strong group of lads and a lot of leaders in the changing room. Those things helped us bounce back. We knew we needed to put it behind us quickly because the next game was coming and we did that.
"It wasn't just the defenders making us solid but everyone played their part. The midfielders won the ball back a lot in midfield and got us up the pitch and the forward players kept it there, so it was a good all-round performance from everyone. We have belief. It's special to be part of this group and be looking upwards. We've got a lot of games over Christmas so we want to keep it going."
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